The British Empire and its Italian Prisoners of War, 1940–1947 (Studies in Military and Strategic History)

The origins of this book go back to the late 1980s when the authors were both employed at the former Bristol Polytechnic and had adjacent rooms in the (now condemned) attic of 'The Conifers', the School of History's former office building. This prompted extensive general discussions on the military history of the Second World War, but the catalyst for further investigation into prisoners-of-war came with the supervision of an undergraduate dissertation based on materials in the Public Record Office written by Heather Parkin on the Italians in British hands. This helped to demonstrate how little was known about the history of prisoners-of-war in this, or in any other modern conflict, and led to an ongoing collaboration which has so far seen the publication of an edited collection, Prisoners of War and their Captors in World War II (Oxford, 1996), and a series of journal articles, written jointly or individually. In this context, we would like to express our thanks to the editors of the International History Review and Intelligence and National Security for permission to publish reworked material which first appeared in their journals in 1996 and 1999 respectively. No book of this nature could be attempted without extensive primary research and we are delighted to acknowledge the financial assistance provided by the British Academy, Scouloudi Foundation, Australian War Memorial, Australian Army, UWE During The Second World War, British And Imperial Forces Captured More Than Half A Million Italian Soldiers, Sailors And Airmen. Although A Symbol Of Military Success, These Prisoners Created A Multitude Of Problems For The Authorities. This Book Examines The Capture, Dispersal Across The Empire, Incarceration And Intelligence Potential Of Prisoners. What Becomes Apparent Is That The British Authorities, When Faced With These Problems, Found Ways And Means Of Converting Italian Pows From Liabilities Into Assets. Some Of This Asset Value, Such As The Use Of Pows As A Source Of Labour And Intelligence, Had Been Understood Long Before The Outbreak Of The Second World War, But Their Further Use As A Political Warfare Tool Was Developed Only During The Course Of Hostilities. The Book Also Looks At The Impact Of The Italian Prisoners On Their 'host' Countries, The Internal Political And Social Problems Which Were Created, And Also How The Prisoners Themselves Reacted To Long-term Incarceration Both Before And After The Italian Surrender In September 1943. Finally, The Text Turns To The Vexed Questions Of Repatriation And The Organisation Of This Most Difficult Task In The Months And Years After 1945--jacket. 1. British Planning And Policy For Prisoners Of War, 1939-41 -- 2. The Essential Labour Supply: The Import Of Italian Pows To The United Kingdom -- 3. Italian Pows In Africa, 1940-3 -- 4. 'farming Down Under': Italian Pows In Australia, 1941-3 -- 5. Intelligence, Propaganda And Political Warfare -- 6. The Watershed Year Of 1943: From Enemies To Co-belligerents -- 7. Neither Enemies Nor Allies: Italian Prisoners In The United Kingdom After The Armistice -- 8. Freedom, Farming And Frustration: Italians In Africa And Australia, 1943-5 -- 9. The Long Road Home. Bob Moore And Kent Fedorowich. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 284-300) And Index. Front Matter....Pages i-xi Introduction....Pages 1-13 British Planning and Policy for Prisoners of War, 1939–41....Pages 14-26 The Essential Labour Supply: The Import of Italian POWs to the United Kingdom....Pages 27-43 Italian POWs in Africa, 1940–3....Pages 44-71 ‘Farming Down Under’: Italian POWs in Australia, 1941–3....Pages 72-91 Intelligence, Propaganda and Political Warfare....Pages 92-130 The Watershed Year of 1943: From Enemies to Co-Belligerents....Pages 131-147 Neither Enemies Nor Allies: Italian Prisoners in the United Kingdom After the Armistice....Pages 148-170 Freedom, Farming and Frustration: Italians in Africa and Australia, 1943–5....Pages 171-204 The Long Road Home....Pages 205-222 Conclusion....Pages 223-227 Back Matter....Pages 228-329 Annotation During the Second World War, British and Imperial forces captured more than half a million Italian soldiers, sailors and airmen. Although a symbol of military success, these prisoners created a multitude of problems for the authorities throughout the war. This book looks at how the British addressed these problems and turned liabilities into assets by using the Italians as a labour force, a source of military intelligence and as a political warfare tool before their final repatriation in 1946-47 This study looks at how the British authorities used World War II Italian prisoners of war as a labour force, a source of military intelligence and as a political warfare tool before their final repatriation in 1946-47